bis foul, that is, he faves himself from fuch a charge against him; as did the apoitle Paul, who could fay, I am pure from the blood of all men; for I have not fhunned to declare unto you all the counfel of God". Thus, by a minifter's taking heed to himself and to his doctrine, and continuing therein, he faves himself from all just blame in his character and office; and may be truly accounted a good minifter of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith, and of good doctrine, whereunto be bath attained'. Secondly, His other reafon is, thou shalt also save them that hear thee; that is, by being an example to them both in word and converfation, thou fhalt be the means of preferving them both from erroneous principles and immoral practices; or, thou shalt be inftrumental in their eternal falvation. Minifters are inftruments by whom fouls believe, and so are faved; the word preached by them being, by the grace of the spirit, an engrafted word, is able to save them; and the gospel being attended with the demonftration of the fpirit, is the power of God unto falvation. What can, or does, more ftrongly engage minifters to take heed to themselves, to their doctrine, and abide therein, than this? That they may be useful in the converfion, and fo in the falvation of precious and immortal fouls, which are of more worth than a world: He that converteth a finner from the error of his way, shall save a foul from death, and shall hide a multitude of fins. A hopeful view of this fupports minifters in their work, and carries them chearfully through many difficulties that attend it; for fuch fouls whom they have been useful to, will be their joy, and crown of rejoicing, in the great day of the Lord. These reasons, I truft, will engage you, my Brother, who have been this day fet apart to the pastoral office in this church, to take heed to yourself, your gifts, time, temper, life and converfation, and to the flock now committed to your care: And I conclude, that thefe will also engage you to take heed to your doctrine; that it be according to the fcriptures, the doctrine of Chrift, his apoftles, and true godlinefs; and fuch as will be profitable to them that hear it; that it be found and incorrupt, pure and unmixed,. and confiftent with itself; that it be delivered out in the beft manner you are able, and defended to the utmost of your ability, by which you will abide,. and in which you will continue: In doing this you will be moft likely to be inftrumental in the converfion of finners, and edification of faints. God give fuccefs to all your miniftrations.. • Acts xx. 26, 27. 1.Tim. iii. 6. James v. zo. SERMON SERMON XXXVIII. The Work of a Gofpel-Minifter recommended to Confideration. A CHARGE delivered at the ORDINATIONS of the Reverend Mr JOHN GILL, Mr JAMES LARWILL, Mr BONNER STONE, AND Mr WALTER RICHARDS. 2 TIMOTHY II. 7. Confider what I fay, and the Lord give thee understanding in all things. THAT HAT part of the fervice of this day, which is affigned to me, being to give a word of exhortation to the paftor of this church, now appointed and ordained to that office, and invested with it; I have chosen to do it in the words read; in which may be observed, I. An exhortation of the apostle Paul to Timothy, to confider what he had faid, was saying, or about to say to him; to attend to it, revolve it in his mind, and lay it up in his memory. II. A prayer, or wish for him, that the Lord would give him understanding, in all that was, or fhould be faid; and in every thing else that might be ferviceable and useful to him. } 1 I. An exhortation to confider well what had been, or fhould be faid unto him; for it may refer both to what goes before, and to what follows after; to what goes before, to the advice given to be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus; to have recourse to Chrift for gifts and grace to fit him more and more for his work, and carry him through it; and strongly to believe that there is a fulness of them in Christ, and that he fhould receive a fufficient fupply from him to help him in every time of need; and alfo to the inftructions delivered to him, to commit the doctrines of the gospel he had heard of him to faithful men, and fuch as were of capacity to teach others; and likewise to the characters he himself bore, as a fol dier, a foldier of Jefus Christ, a good foldier of his; and therefore should patiently and conftantly endure hardships, reproaches, and perfecution, for the fake of him and his golpel; and fhe id not unneceffarily entangle himself with the affairs of this life, but attend to military ones, that fo he might please him that had chofen him to be a foldier; and as he was a combatant, that he must not expect the crown, unless he ftrove lawfully; and as a husbandman, bearing the precious feed of the word, that he must labour before he could partake of the fruits of is or this may have refpect to what follows after; that he would confider the fum and fubftance of the gofpel he was to preach, and for which the apostle fuffered, which was a rifen Saviour, and includes his incarnation, obedience, fufferings, and death, with all the doctrines of grace in connection with them; as also that it became him to be very ftudious and diligent in the use of means, that he might acquit himself with honour in the discharge of his minifterial work; that he might appear approved of God, a workman not to be ashamed of his work, at all times rightly dividing the word of truth, fhunning every thing contrary to faith and holinefs; likewife, that he ought to flee youthful lusts, his age inclined unto, and follow righteousness, faith, charity and peace; and meekly to inftruct those who contradicted themselves and their profession, that, if it was poffible, they might be recovered out of the fnare they were fallen into; to these this exhortation may refer, with other things that may be observed in the context. What farther improvement I fhall make of it, will be to lay before you, the paftor of this church, for your confideration, various things relative to the work you have been chofen, and called unto, and the office you have been invested with. First, Confider the work itself, and what a work it is you are engaged in ;> it is a work, and not a fine-cure, but a fervice; there is bufinefs to be done, and a great deal of business too; it is called the work of the ministry, from the fubject-matter of it, the miniftry of the word, and the adminiftration of ordinances; and the work of the Lord and of Chrift, from the concern the Lord Jefus Chrift has in it; he is the fum and fubftance of it, he calls unto it, and qualifies for it, affifts in it, and when it is rightly done, it makes for his glory. Confider that it is a laborious work; minifters of Chrift are not to be loiterers, but labourers in his vineyard; it requires much reading of the fcriptures, frequent prayer; conftant meditation, and ftudy to prepare for it; and much study is a weariness to the flefb: and in the performance of this fervice, with that zeal, fervour, and affection, which are necessary to it, a man, to use the apoftle's phrafe, may fpend and be spent ; fpend his animal fpirits until they are quite exhaufted and gone; for this work, followed with close application, will try the best conftitution in the world, and at length waste and confume it: Epaphroditus, a faithful and laborious minister of the word, was nigh unto death, for, or through the work of Chrift: but then confider, for your encouragement, it is an honourable work; if a man defire the office of a bishop, be defireth a good work which is pleasantly, profitably, and honourably good; for what is more honourable than to be the fervants of the most high God, and to be employed in fuch service of his, as to shew unto men the way of falvation? Than to be the ambaffadors of Chrift, and ftand in his ftead, and befeech men to be reconciled to God? Than to be ftewards of the mysteries of Chrift, and of the manifold grace of God? Than to be the lights of the world, stars in Chrift's right hand, the messengers or angels of the churches, and the glory of Chrift? Moreover, confider that this work well performed, is deferving of esteem from men; they that labour in the word and doctrine are worthy of double bonour, of an honourable maintenance, and of honourable respect; they are to be received with gladnefs, and had in reputation; and to be known, owned, and acknowledged by those over whom they are as fathers, guides, and governors: and to be highly efteemed for their works fake: add to all this, that this is a work in which God is with his minifters, and they with him; for, fays the apostle ", we are labourers together with God, ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building; the churches are God's husbandry, and to be manured and cultivated, planted and watered; which is a laborious work, and conftantly to be attended to; and nothing can be done to any purpofe, and with any effect, but through the prefence and bleffing of God; neither is he that planteth any thing, neither be that watereth, which to do is the work of gospel-minifters, but God that giveth the increase1; and as the people of God, in a church-ftate, are his building, and who are to be edified and built upon their most holy faith; except the Lord build the boufe, they labour in vain that build it; but when his minifters go forth in his name and strength, preaching his gofpel, and he grants his gracious presence and affiftance, and he, the Lord, is working with them', they go on in their work. with chearfulness and fuccefs. Secondly, Confider the feveral parts of this work you are called unto and engaged in, which are to be performed by you, and are as follow; 1. The ministration of the word, which is a principal part of the work of a minister of Chrift; the apostles, and firft preachers of the gospel, besides the spiritual, had the fecular affairs of the church upon their hands; which lying too heavy on them, they defired to be eafed, by appointing proper persons to take care of the latter; that so they might give themselves up wholly and`conftantly to prayer, and to the miniftry of the word": Now confider what that is, that is to be miniftered, it is the word of God, and not man; which, as it demands the attention of the hearer, fo the affiduous application of the preacher : it is the gospel that is to be preached, the good news and glad tidings of peace, pardon, righteousness, and salvation by Chrift; it is the gofpel, which is given in commiffion to preach; it is the glorious gospel of the bleffed God, which ministers are entrusted with; and there is a wo upon them, if they preach it not; they are appointed ministers of the new teftament; not of the law, the killing letter, the ministration of condemnation and death; but of the gospel, the quickening fpirit, the miniftration of the fpirit, of righteoufnefs and of life: confider, that only the pure unmixed gospel of Chrift is to be preached, the fincere milk of the word, unadulterated, and clear of all human mixtures; it is not to be blended and corrupted with the doctrines of men: the word of God is not to be handled craftily; the hidden things of difhonefty are to be renounced, and the manifeftation of the truth is to be made to every man's confcience, in the fight of God: and the whole of the gofpel is to be delivered; no truth of it is to be dropped, concealed, or kept back, upon any pretence whatfoever, though it may be displeasing to fome; fuch a queftion is never to be admitted and reafoned upon one moment in your private ftudies and preparations, whether fuch a truth you are meditating upon will be pleasing or difpleafing? for if you feek to please men, you will not be the fervant of Chrift; the only thing to be confidered is, is it truth? if it is, fpeak it out, without fear of man; and though it may be traduced as irrational, or licentious, and be loaded with reproach, and charged with dangerous confequences; yea, it may be urged, that admitting it to be truth, fince an ill use may be made of it, it should not be preached; but let none of these things move you; preach truth, every truth, and leave it with the God of truth, who will take care of it, and use it to his own ends and purposes. Confider, that Chrift is the fum and subftance of the gospel-miniftry; and that he, as to his person, offices, and grace, is chiefly to be infifted upon; we preach not ourselves, but Chrift Jefus the Lord"; as the anointed prophet, priest, and king; as Jefus the alone Saviour; as the Lord our righteoufnefs, even Christ crucified, and flain for the fins of men; though fuch preaching may be a ftumbling-block to fome, and foolishness to others. The great apostle Paul, who well understood the nature and import of the gofpel-miniftry, declares, that be determined not to know any thing, that is, not to make known, or preach any thing, fave Jefus Christ, and him crucified; and as Chrift is the alpha and omega of the fcriptures, fo he should be of all your difcourfes and fermons; whatever subject you are upon, keep Christ in your |